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85th Academy Awards: Three Ithaca College Alumni, One Student Surround Oscars From All Angles

LOS ANGELES—Ithaca College alumni are participating in the Academy Awards from all angles this year with a nominee, contest winner, intern and performer all slated to take part.

One woman paying extra close attention to the Documentary Short category will be Susannah Ludwig, a 1993 graduate of Ithaca College’s Roy H. Park School of Communication, and a producer of the nominated film “King’s Point.” The film tells the stories of five seniors living in a typical American retirement resort — men and women who came to Florida decades ago with their spouses by their sides and their health intact, who now find themselves grappling with love, loss and the universal desire for human connection. It has already earned numerous awards on the documentary film festival circuit.

While Ludwig doesn’t know if she’ll get to hold an Oscar, Tatenda Mbudzi ’10 is guaranteed to. Mbudzi is one of six winners in a contest sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and MTVu, and will be on stage during the proceedings to hand the statues to presenters. Mbudzi’s 35-second video posted to YouTube explaining how he plans to contribute to the future of film won him the honor. He fell in love with Hollywood while attending Ithaca College’s Los Angeles program, and he is currently studying for a master’s degree at UCLA.

The LA program is also the reason Jen Segal will be involved in the Academy Awards. Segal, a junior communication management & design major in the Park School, is spending her spring semester in the City of Angels interning at the Academy. She plans to document her experience after the Oscars for Fuse Magazine, the Ithaca College publication for prospective students.

Finally, be on the lookout as Aaron Tveit ’12 takes the stage as part of a medley honoring musicals in film past and present. Tveit played the role of Enjolras as part of the critically acclaimed ensemble cast of “Les Miserables” and is expected to make an appearance to sing a piece from the film.

The 85th Academy Awards ceremony will be broadcast on ABC on Sunday, Feb. 24.